Florida football: 3 reasons the Gators can go 8-4, and 3 for 4-8
By Will Thomas
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures alongside Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15), Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2), and Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 5, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F480a5b26fd88c46cc6584e625d49514ed8d5ea53369dc6ed817b549db865e63c.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures alongside Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15), Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2), and Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 5, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]")
Reason No. 3 Florida football gets eight wins: The defense takes a leap
Todd Grantham and Patrick Toney have left a pretty bad taste in the mouths of Gator fans over these past few years.
With Austin Armstrong coming in, there’s a new sense of energy, physicality, and confidence on that side of the ball that we’ve been missing for a couple of seasons.
There’s plenty of talent on Florida’s defense that provides even more reasoning why the defense could take a big step forward.
Princely Umanmielen will be their feature pass rusher off the edge and is ready to breakout after a strong second half last season.
At linebacker, Florida brought in tons of talent in the transfer portal in Deuce Spurlock, Teradja Mitchell, and Mannie Nunnery that will all be contributors.
Shemar James and Derek Wingo are two returning guys at that spot that have a chance to jump up a lot of future draft boards and get on some NFL radars as well.
In the secondary, Jason Marshall Jr. is a projected first-round pick, and Jalen Kimber is now healthy and ready to be a reliable CB2.
Back at safety, we’ll see Kamari Wilson in his second season, and he’s looked a lot faster and more agile so far in camp.
Florida also brings in Michigan transfer R.J. Moten back at safety who will be the veteran presence that the room needs.
If the defense can get back up into the top half of the SEC, it will take a lot of pressure off Florida’s offense and lead to a couple more wins.